PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joe Joe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Lichen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Joe
vs
Lichen

170 cm
24
151 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joe Joe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, David Lichen!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Alec Ball and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joe swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Lichen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Joe misses with a double jab.
Joe with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Lichen to score with a decent uppercut.
A jab from Lichen finds it's way through Joe's defenses.
Lichen works the jab nicely.
Horrible takedown attempt by Joe or perhaps it was just good defense by Lichen, which made it look bad.

Joe feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Lichen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Joe. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lichen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Joe is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe stops Lichen from standing up.
Lichen wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Joe manages to pass to side control.
Joe prevents Lichen from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joe not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Joe is controlling the pace.
Lichen won't allow Joe to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Joe perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Lichen is trying to get back to full guard.
Joe with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lichen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Joe stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
David Lichen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lichen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lichen with a hook.
Lichen scores with a nice strike.
Lichen looks winded!
Lichen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Joe.
Joe misses with a low kick.
Lichen is looking for the big counter here.
Joe swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Lichen counters with a nice uppercut.
Joe Joe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Joe throws a leg kick but Lichen checks it.
Joe with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lichen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Joe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lichen slaps away a takedown attempt from Joe, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Joe takes one to the chin there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lichen unleashes a big counter combination but Joe bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Joe swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Lichen to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice body punch from Lichen.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lichen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Joe backs up against the cage.
Lichen tests Joe's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice straight punches there by Lichen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Lichen.
Joe with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Lichen to score with a decent uppercut.
Lichen scores with a hook to the body. Joe takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Lichen dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A shot to the body from Joe misses
and Lichen counters with a stiff right hand.
Lichen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Joe takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Joe misses the body punch
and Lichen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lichen connects with the punch.
Nice uppercut there from Lichen.
Joe Joe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lichen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Joe on the side of the head.
Lichen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Lichen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A low kick from Joe misses
letting Lichen counter with a right hand.
Joe on the wrong end of a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lichen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Joe.
Joe misses with a shot to the body
and Lichen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Joe takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lichen throws a series of strikes that have Joe backpedaling.
Lichen is breathing heavily.
Joe misses with a leg kick
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Lichen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lichen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Some wild striking there from Lichen.
Joe throws a combination that misses
and Lichen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Joe swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Joe throws a lazy uppercut
and Lichen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lichen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Joe looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Joe swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Lichen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Joe takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Joe throws a jab when Lichen was well out of range.
It seemed like Lichen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Lichen lands with a right hand.
Joe is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A combination from Joe does no damage.
Joe throws a leg kick
and Lichen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Joe shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lichen counters with a one-two to the body.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Lichen!
Joe misses the body punch
and Lichen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Joe gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Lichen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Joe waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lichen.
It seemed like Lichen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lichen with a nice cross.
Lichen avoids the body shot from Joe.
Joe throws a right hand that misses
and Lichen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Joe tries to move into range but Lichen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Lichen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Joe.
Joe throws a leg kick
and Lichen counters with a right hand to the body.
Joe throws a sloppy body shot
and Lichen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lichen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Joe in his tracks.
Joe avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lichen throws a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lichen manages to avoid it.
Joe doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Joe swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Joe fails with the takedown.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Joe is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lichen's half guard.
Joe seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Lichen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Joe throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lichen.
Lichen connects with a jab.
Joe throws an off balance right hand
enabling Lichen to counter with a crisp jab.
Joe is looking to wear down Lichen with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Joe misses with a double jab
and Lichen counters with a left to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Lichen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Lichen lands a glancing blow to the side of Joe's head.
Joe swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Lichen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Joe misses with an uppercut
and Lichen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lichen lands with a nice body punch.
Lichen lands with a right hand.
David Lichen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Joe on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe motions for Lichen to come forward. Joe throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Lichen lands a jab to Joe's midsection.
Lichen scores with a jab to the body.
Joe walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Joe throws a poor cross that misses
and Lichen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lichen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Joe's head backwards.
Joe with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lichen counters with a nice uppercut.
Lichen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lichen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Joe looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Joe takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Joe walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Joe on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joe takes one on the button.
Joe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lichen manages to avoid it.
Joe takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Joe moves forwards but Lichen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Joe takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Joe throws a leg kick that misses.
Joe takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Lichen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Joe walks into a straight right hand from Lichen.
Joe wants to land a leg kick but Lichen is out of range.
Joe misses the body punch
and Lichen counters with a left and a right that stings Joe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lichen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Joe bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Joe tries to advance to mount but Lichen denies him.
Joe moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe Joe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Joe has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Joe works to advance to full mount. Lichen defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Joe Joe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Lichen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lichen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Lichen!